Benjamin Banneker Argument Against Slavery
In 1790, the first U.S census revealed that of the four million U.S residents , seven hundred thousand were black slaves. Who didn’t had rights or liberties they were owned by the farm or plantation owner just as if they were livestock. Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, was a farmer, astronomer, mathematician, and author. In 1971 Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson arguing against slavery. In his letter Banneker describes how atrocious the black slaves are treated . Banneker's purpose is that he wants all black slaves to have the same rights as anyone else because they live in the U.S were they have the right of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness which all black slaves are being denied. Benjamin Banneker
adopts an indignant tone in order to make Thomas Jefferson want to make a change in how the world treats the black people. Banneker achieves his purpose through the use of diction and syntax.
Benjamin Banneker begins his letter with words of discern. "entreat", "fortitude", "inability", "apprehensions" are words that make Thomas Jefferson feel concerned of how the U.S is not fulling their promise of giving everyone including the black people their rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. During the time of 1790, Haiti had a successful slave revolution where they fought for their liberty which relates to Benjamin Banneker because he wants his people to have their rights but without having a revolt like Haiti where many were killed. In the last paragraph the tone shifts to a more compassion passage. "brethren", "presume" "wean", "imbibed", "Stead", "benevolence" this terms make Thomas Jefferson feel sorrowful on how black people are being treated and are entreating Jefferson to make a change. During this period of time 1790, most of the U.S population was the African Americans that were slaves. This relates to Banneker's letter because most of the population of the U.S were the African Americans that also were U.S citizens who didn’t had any right that every U.S citizen is born with.
adopts an indignant tone in order to make Thomas Jefferson want to make a change in how the world treats the black people. Banneker achieves his purpose through the use of diction and syntax.
Benjamin Banneker begins his letter with words of discern. "entreat", "fortitude", "inability", "apprehensions" are words that make Thomas Jefferson feel concerned of how the U.S is not fulling their promise of giving everyone including the black people their rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. During the time of 1790, Haiti had a successful slave revolution where they fought for their liberty which relates to Benjamin Banneker because he wants his people to have their rights but without having a revolt like Haiti where many were killed. In the last paragraph the tone shifts to a more compassion passage. "brethren", "presume" "wean", "imbibed", "Stead", "benevolence" this terms make Thomas Jefferson feel sorrowful on how black people are being treated and are entreating Jefferson to make a change. During this period of time 1790, most of the U.S population was the African Americans that were slaves. This relates to Banneker's letter because most of the population of the U.S were the African Americans that also were U.S citizens who didn’t had any right that every U.S citizen is born with.